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2/6/2006 HACKENSACK, NJ — Vanderbilt’s bowling team has made its debut in the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) rankings. The Commodores are ranked seventh in the national poll of coaches with a record of 31-22, behind defending national champion, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which received eight out of 14 possible first place votes. “One year ago when we were starting our program we were not even close to the rankings radar,” said Vanderbilt Coach John Williamson. “From that perspective, it is nice to see the hard work of our team being recognized at this point in the season by a cross-section of coaches from around the country. However, as I’ve been saying each time we make a tangible step forward, we are simply not going to become content with being seventh or fourth or even second. These polls are interesting but they are not our focus.” Two-time NCAA national semifinalist, Fairleigh Dickinson University of Teaneck, NJ, was ranked second, receiving five first place votes. The Knights, whose NCAA match record stands at 52-6, are in first place in the North East Women’s Bowling Conference with a 6-0 record, and have won the Capital Classic in Dover, DE; the UMES Hawk Classic in Millsboro, DE; the FDU Holiday Jamboree in Atlantic City, NJ; and the NCAT Aggie Invitational in Greensboro, NC this season. The third ranked team by the NTCA is Central Missouri State University of Springfield, MO, the NCAA championship runner-up for the past two seasons. The Jennies, who are 42-6-1, have won the Arkansas State Lady Indians Invitational in Jonesboro, AK; the National Team Match Games in St. Louis, MO; and Southern Varsity Invitational in Baton Rouge, LA. Rounding out the top five are New Jersey City University of Jersey City, NJ (45-15), winners of the Nittany Lion Kegler Classic; and the University of Maryland — Eastern Shore of Princess Ann, MD (53-24), leader of the Mideast Athletic Conference Northern Division. The remaining teams in the top ten are Bethune-Cookman College of Daytona Beach, FL (41-12); University of Alabama A&M of Huntsville, AL (13-3-1); Arkansas State University of Jonesboro, AK (39-24-3); and Southern University of Baton Rouge, LA (37-18-1). This national poll is the first of three installments by the NTCA for the 2005-2006 season. Voters ranked the top 15 teams based on results from competitions completed by February 1, 2006. Points ranging from 25 for a fist place vote and one point for a 15th place vote were used to rank teams. The NTCA will release its next poll on March 6, 2006. The following is a list of ranked teams on the first 2005-2006 NTCA national poll: (1st place votes) Points 1. University of Nebraska — Lincoln (24 — 3) (8) 328 2. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ (52 — 6) (5) 315 3. Central Missouri State University, Springfield, MO (42–6– ) 282 4. New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ (45–15) 244 5. University of Maryland — Eastern Shore, Princess Ann, MD (53–24) 186 6. Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, FL (41–12) 162 7. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (31–22) 150 8. University of Alabama A&M, Huntsville, AL (13–3–1) 147 9. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AK (39–24–3) 127 10. Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA (37–18–1) 108 11. North Carolina State University A&T, Greensboro, NC (55–25) 79 12. Texas Southern University, Houston, TX (30–19) (1) 78 13. Morgan State University, Towson, MD (38–30) 52 14. University of Wisconsin — Whitewater (22–21) 34 15. Delaware State University, Dover, DE (38–36) 14 Also receiving votes: |
